As one prominent agent deadlocked in a contract dispute once told me, the salary cap is the “most convenient excuse” any NFL team has to release a player or attempt to reduce their earnings for the coming year. Something can always be done, and while that agent was right, cutting a player because they’ve become too old, too expensive or too inconsistent is just part of the league’s natural order.
That’s why we have “cap casualty” season even if it isn’t aptly named, which can start after the team’s final game but picks up significantly leading up to free agency and the draft.